Next month will be a strong month for Pokémon, and we've seen big Pokémon milestones in November in the past

We're coming down to the wire with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. As we draw nearer and nearer to the Nintendo Switch title's launch on December 7th, fans are anxiously awaiting the next big announcement, and it's likely that there aren't many left considering we're less than two months away from release now — and there are already over 70 playable characters to choose from.

If there are still playable characters set to join Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's roster, we'll be finding out who they are soon. Banjo Kazooie, Super Mario RPG's Geno, Donkey Kong Country 2's Dixie Kong, and many more have been rumored to be potential candidates for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's roster, but as it stands right now it seems like two characters in particular are showing the strongest signs of actually joining — Pokémon Sun and Moon's Incineroar and Street Fighter's Ken.

Vergeben's claims have been quite accurate when it comes to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and based on some recent statements from Sakurai about what's still to come, Incineroar seems like he has a pretty good chance of making the cut.

Nintendo is currently making a big push for Pokémon — with Pokémon Go still seeing support, Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go Eevee! on Nintendo Switch, and a core Pokémon game that is currently being developed for the Switch — and it only makes sense that they'd add a representative from the latest generation into Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. If Incineroar is joining Smash Ultimate, there's a good chance the announcement is coming next month considering November will be a big month for Pokémon and has been several times before.

In the past, we've seen the launch of several major Pokémon titles arrive in November.

Looking at the current generation of core Pokémon games, we saw Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon on Nintendo 3DS release on November 17th, 2017. The start of Gen 7, the initial Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon games, launched a year prior on November 18th, 2016 in North America.

With Incineroar making a debut in Pokémon Sun and Moon, it would stand to reason that Nintendo and Sakurai would look to honor the games' release dates by announcing one of Sun and Moon's main characters for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in the same month — resulting in three big game-related Pokémon Sun and Moon milestones over the course of the past three years.

If we go further back, we see that Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire (updated remakes of Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire for the Nintendo 3DS) hit the handheld console in NA on November 21st, 2014. Additionally, Japan saw the release of Pokémon Colosseum (Nintendo Gamecube), Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire (Game Boy Advance), and Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver (Game Boy Color) in November of 2003, 2002, and 1999, respectively.

Jumping back to present day, November 2018 is already shaping up to be another great month for the Pokémon franchise. The Nintendo Switch titles Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go Eevee! are set to release on November 16th. A special Pokémon-themed Nintendo Switch console featuring Pikachu and Eevee is also being released on the same day and will commemorate the first Pokémon game developed for the Switch.

"With Incineroar making a debut in Pokémon Sun and Moon, it would stand to reason that Nintendo and Sakurai would look to honor the games' [November] release dates by announcing one of Sun and Moon's main characters for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in the same month..."

The fun doesn't stop there, though, as Pokémon fans can look forward to the launch of another major set in the Pokémon Trading Card Game next month as well. On November 2nd, the "Lost Thunder" Pokémon TCG set will hit stores and will featuring new cards of fan-favorite Pokémon such as Lugia, Suicune, and Tyranitar, and will also be the Pokémon card debut of brand new Pokémon, Zeraora.

Speaking of which, Zeraora will see free distribution from October 19th - November 19th at select Gamestop stores in the United States, so you'll be able to acquire the new mythical Pokémon for Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon well into next month. Zerarora is a cat-like Electric-type mythical Pokémon that made its debut in the latest Pokémon film, The Power of Us.

Pokémon Go will also continue with its community day events, seeing another taking place on November 10th. Information on the event is scarce, but these community days usually make available special Pokémon (including shinies) for a limited time that players can go out and catch.

Sakurai recently stated that the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate character reveals have been coming in at a fast pace and that they cannot keep up at this rate.

"We showed off Isabelle in the latest Nintendo Direct..." Sakurai said in his Famitsu column. "But it's a mistake to think that we'll keep pushing out new challengers until the release of the game at this rate. We've been firing the trigger a bit too quickly, so we're going to live a bit more sparingly from now on."

The Super Smash Bros. franchise also has a knack for front-loading their biggest and most shocking reveals, leaving less potent announcements for closer to launch. Incineroar would be a welcome addition to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, but certainly wouldn't have the same impact on fans as long-requested characters like King K. Rool or Castlevania's Simon Belmont.

A Nintendo Direct in a Pokémon-packed November to promote Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go Eevee! seems likely, and if we do see a presentation next month, I think a reveal of Incineroar in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is nearly guaranteed.